Head box construction for venetian blinds and mounting bracket therefor



G. L. SHERWOOD l HEAD BOX CONSTRUCTION FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Oct. 6, 1953 AND MOUNTING BRACKET THEREFOR lFiled-June 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENToR. v/em? L, ce/'wood ATTORNEY Oct. 6, 1953 G. sHERwooD 2,654,426

READ Box CONSTRUCTION FOR VENETIAN BLINOs ANO MOUNTING BRACKET THEREFOR Filed June 4, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 if/Z155 C; o l o 45 -J 44 77j 7 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNIT-eu rarest .carica BXA GoNsTRUC'rIoN; Fort; vENEg- 'ISIAN'BLINDS .AND MOUNTING BRACKET.'

GlennL. Sherwood, Benton HarbonvMich.l Applcatiqn lanci, 1949v Serial N0.3.1,0f16r 9r Claims, 1l

This. invention relatesv to.y improvementa in had bQX. CQDSTUQQB for Yentan. bhni all@ maunting bracket therefQl- The, principal-l orreztfs.` of, this inventiqnr are;

First, te provide a, noi/,elf ferm. 0fv head. box construction for supporting Venetian blindsincluding theA lifting and tiltinggmechanisrn for the slats ofthe blind which will permit'`A a givenr set ofparts to be adjusted to. .t different, widths. of Windows.

Second, to, provide a mounting bracket for the head boxy of a Venetianblind which canbeI used aseither arightor leflbracketon the headbox and which can be adjusted for attachment4V to either the front, inside, or the underside of the lintel of a window frame.

Third, to provide a head box including a facia piece for a Venetian blind in which the facia piece can be manufactured and shipped in iiat condition and bent around the ends of the head boxA on installation or left flat for longitudinally extended head boxes.

Fourth, to provide head box construction for a,V Venetian blind in which two. body members supporting tilting mechanism and lifting mechanism are adjustably connected by a rail member todetermine the distance between the body membersrand thereby determine the length of Venetianblind which the head b ox will support.

Fifth, to reduce the cost of Venetian blind con-v struction by providing standard elements or subsections for a headY box which can be adjustably assembled with different rail members for determining the length of the Venetiany blind.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of my head box construction will be apparent froma considerationA of thek following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a preferredform of my head box conn struction.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary. front elevational view of a head box embodying my invention as associated with the top slats of a Venetian blind.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational View of the left end of the head box shown in Fig. 1 with the facia piece removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view, partially broken away in vertical section, of the right end of the head box shown in Fig. 1 and with the facia piece removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary Vertical cross section view along the broken line 4-4 in Fig. 2 and showing the methodof mounting the ,facia piece on the head box.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View, partially broken away in horizontal section, of the left end of thehead box shown in Fig.v 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partially broken away in horizontal. section, of the right end of the head box shown in Fig. 1.

Fi g .7 is a front elevational viewof thesupe 2. porting bracket. used, for supportingmyhead box on a window casing.

Fig. 8 is a planview ofthe bracket shown/ in Fig. 1.

My head boxconsists'ofaleft bodymember I and right body member 2-joined togetherin the back by a rail member 3 and enclosed in the frontby a facia pieceA. The space between `the body members and,l behind the facia l` may be closed by a center dividing,A plate 5 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 6. The body members I andn 2 serve to support the well known ladder tapes 6 and slats 'I in a manner` to be. describedpres: ently.

The left body member I isvofupwardly opening channel shaped crosssection andis conveniently formed as a stampingd provided'. witljr am front flange 8 and rear flange951.lpirreclgby, theweb, I0; The body member luisn provided' with a trans-v verse partition plate` II and' va pulley supporting bracket l2-Y The. partiten. plate I'Ilservesasa. supporting bearing forvtlieT tilt. shaft I'3 .lraving the gear segment I Ajmounted thereonvandvthe bracket I2 supportsrthe pulley shaft I 55j andpulley drum I6 arranged to berotatedby the tiltjcords II.` The tilt shaftv I3l is connected to an ex.- tension shaft I8, by means of asegrnentaltape hub I9` which serves. te supporttheleftladder tape 6. The tilting mechar1is mj andi' tape1 hub construction is more particularly described'gand claimed in my co-pending application, rSerial 'No'. 586,905, filed Aprilr6, 1345;' for Venetian; Blind Construction: now- U: vS:- Patent 25529229.

The right body member 2 is: also of; upwardly opening channel shaped's'crossA section and*A is formed `'as astampingfhaving a rear l ange 2D and front iangell joined^gby7the ,web 22. The body member 2iis providedgwitha shaft -support ing arm 23 k(see Figs.,3f and 46) arrangedtoref ceive the right end o'fjthe extension shaft 'I8;and is further provided gwith aliftv cord lock bracket 24 for locking: the liftcordsin any; of* their adjusted positions.A Thveright-end ofl the extension shaft I 8 carries a segmental lift1 cord hub I9, thesame as the .hubat theleft end of the extension shaft I8 for supportingthe right ladderV tape E. The construction 4of the right hub and liftn cord bracket is. alsdmore particularlyrde-f scribed and Y claimed'j in, my before mentioned co.- pending application.v

The rear flanges of.' each,ofthe-body members Iand"2 defines. apair. of tapedapertures 26, which are arranged, to,receive.screws 2'I. extend-f ing throughthelongitudinal slotslfuz in thel` rear. rail 3.- The *body members-I and 2 lcanhthus, be adustably Connected @fort different, .longitudinal spacing on any given rail member 3..- Thisdo: cates the ladder tapes tIi.aijtl'1e .,desired,lollgitudigf nal spacingend. a;fewastandardflengths oir-1 rail members S-cani bamadeto.accommodatermosr standardrwidthsrof..Mindener Therdivideeallate divider plates will, of course, be provided for different length blinds. y

The forward anges 8 and 2| of the two body members are each provided with ears 30 which are pressed forwardly from the lower portions of the flanges and turned downwardly as is most clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to engage the rearwardly turned flange 3l on the bottom of the facia 4. The upper edge of the facia is provided with a rearwardly turned flange 32 which receives the locking screws 33 behind the front anges of the body members. The front anges 8 and 2| are further provided with triangle shaped rearwardly inclined lugs 34 which engage the screws 33 for holding the facia piece on the body members. As will be noted in Figs. and 6,

the flanges on the fac-ia 4 are notched near they ends as at 35 so that the facia may be either bent rearwardly around the ends of the head box as indicated by the dotted lines at 36 or left straight to overhang the ends of the body members as shown in full lines at 31.

The outer ends of the web portion of the body members I and 2 define a pair of taped apertures 53 arranged to receive the mounting screws 39 for securing the head box to the mounting brackets 40. The mounting brackets are identical and reversible so that they will fit both the right and left body members. The brackets consist of angle shaped clips 4I defining apertures 42 in each flange thereof for attachment to a window casing. One flange of the brackets d!! is pivotally connected by a rivet 43 to the angle shaped arm 44, the free branch of which denes a slot 45 through which the screws 39 extend for attachment to the webs of the body members I and 2.

By rotating the angle arms 44 on the brackets M, the brackets 4I may be brought into any desired relationship with the window casing to which they are to be attached. Figs. 5 and 7 show a bracket arranged for supporting the left end of a head box either from the front surface of the window casing or from the inside surfaces of the window casing. Figs. 3 and 6 and the dotted lines in Fig. 7 show the bracket member 4I turned to support the end of the head box l from the bottom of the cross piece or lintel of the window casing. The slots i5 permit longitudinal adjustment of the body members I and 2 relative to the brackets 40 thus providing a further longitudinal adjustment of the position of the head box on the Window casing relative to the points of attachment of the brackets 130.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that the body members I and 2 and the operating mechanism supported thereby is standard for any width of window. All that is necessary to adapt the body members to any window is to provide the proper length of extension shaft I8, rear rail 3, partition plate 5, and facia 4. The body members are further longitudinally adjustable on the rear rail so that the rails themselves can be standardized in a few convenient lengths and made to fit practically any width of window. The facia piece is also adjustable for length by either bending back the ends as at 36 in Fig. 5 or leaving them straight as illustrated in the full lines.

I have thus described a highly practical commercial embodiment of my head box construction so that others may reproduce the same with such modifications as may be desirable without further description on my part.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Supporting andV enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a longitudinally adjustable Venetian blind comprising, a pair of upwardly opening channel shaped body members, blind tilting and lifting mechanisms supported by said body members, a rear rail having a longitudinally adjustable connection to the rear walls of said body members, brackets for supporting each of said body members longitudinally adjustably secured to the webs of said body members, downwardly turned ears extending from the bottom of the front walls of said body members, a facia pieceA extending across the front of said body members and having a rearwardly turned lower flange hooked underneath said ears, a rearwardly turned flange on the top of said facia piece extending over the front walls of said body members, the front walls of said body members having lugs pressed rearwardly therefrom, and screws extending through the upper flange of said facia piece and yieldably engageable with said lugs for retaining said facia on said body members.

2. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a Venetian blind comprising, a pair of upwardly opening channel shaped body members, blind tilting and lifting mechanisms sup-ported by said body members, a rear rail having a longitudinally adjustable connection to the rear walls of said body members, brackets for supporting each of said body members secured to the webs of said body members, downwardly turned ears extending from the bottom of said body members, a facia piece extending aeross the front of said body members and having a rearwardly turned lower iiangev hooked underneath said ears, a rearwardly turned flange on the top of said facia piece extending over the front walls cf said body members, and screws extending through the upper flange of said facia piece for retaining said acia on said body members.

3. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a Venetian blind cornprising, a pair of upwardly opening channel shaped body members, blind tilting and lifting mechanisms supported by said body members, a rear rail having a longitudinally adjustable connection to the rear walls of said body niembers, brackets for supporting each of said body members secured to the webs of said body members, downwardly turned ears extending from the bottom or said body members, a facia piece extending across the front of said body members and having a rearwardly turned lower flange hooked underneath said ears, and a rearwardly turned flange on the top of said facia piece extending over the front walls of said body members.

4. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a Venetian blind including, an upwardly opening channel-shaped body, blind tilting and biind lifting mechanisms supported by said body, the ends of the web of said body having tapped apertures formed therein, angle brackets for supporting said body each Comprising a rear ange and a forwardly projecting ange, said franges having apertures formed therein adapted to receive screws for selective attachment to a window casing, and an angle-shaped arm having on branch lapped on and pivotally connected to said rear flange at a point spaced from said forwardly projecting flange whereby the swinging branch of said arm extends perpendicularly from said rear flange and may be positioned in forwardly projecting lapped supporting relationship to either end of the web of said body with said forwardly projecting flange spaced selectively vertically above or longitudinally beyond the end of said body, the swinging branch of said arm having a slot formed therein, screws adapted to be engaged through said slots in said arms and into the apertures in said body to connect said body to said arms, and a continuous facia panel extending completely along the front of said body and removably supported thereon, said facia panel having integral end portions bent around the ends of said body sufficiently to enclose the ends of said body.

5. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a Venetian blind including, an upwardly opening channel-shaped body, blind tilting and blind lifting mechanisms supported by said body, the ends of the web of said body having apertures formed therein, angle brackets for supporting said body each comprising a rear flange and a forwardly projecting flange, said flanges having apertures formed therein adapted to receive screws for selective attachment to a window casing, and an angle-shaped arm having on branch lapped on and pivotally connected to said rear flange at a point spaced from said forwardly projecting flange -whereby the swinging branch of said arm extends perpendicularly from said rear flange and may be positioned in forwardly projecting lapped supporting relationship to either end of the webof said body with said forwardly projecting flange spaced selectively vertically above or longitudinally beyond the end of said body, the swinging branch of said arm having a hole formed therein, screws adapted to be engaged through said holes in said arms and into the apertures in said body to connect said body to said arms, and a continuous facia panel extending completely along the front of said body and removably supported thereon, said facia panel having integral end portions bent around the ends of said body sufciently to enclose the ends of said body.

6. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a longitudinally adjustable Venetian blind comprising, a pair of channel shaped body members, blind tilting and lifting mechanisms supported by said body members, said tilting mechanism being longitudinally adjustably connected therebetween, a rear rail having a longitudinally adjustable connection to the rear of said body members, a divider plate supported between the bottoms of said body members, brackets adapted to be securedfto a window casing and removably connected to the bottoms of said body members at the outer ends thereof to support the same, and a facia piece extending across the fronts of said body members and supported thereby, said facia piece having integral end portions bent around the outer end of said body members and enclosing the same.

'7. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a longitudinally adjustable Venetian blind comprising a pair of body members, blind tilting and lifting mechanisms supported by said body members, said tilting mechanisms being longitudinally adjustably connected between said members, a rail having a longitudinally adjustable connection to said body members, brackets adapted to be secured to a window casing and removably connected to the bottoms of said body members at the outer ends thereof to support the same, and a facia piece extending completely across the fronts of said body members, said facia piece having integral end portions bent around the outer ends of said body members and enclosing the same.

8. Supporting and enclosing structure for the operating mechanism of a Venetian blind including, longitudinally spaced load carrying members having blind lifting and tilting mechanisms mounted thereon, means connecting said members, angle brackets having rear flanges adapted to be secured to an inwardly facing surface of a window casing parallel to the window, forwardly projecting flanges on said brackets adapted to be alternatively connected to surfaces of a window casing extending transversely of the window, angle shaped clips having one arm pivotally secured to said rear flanges and having their swinging arms extending perpendicularly from said rear flanges and removably attached to the bottoms of said load carrying members at the outer ends thereof with the forwardly projecting flanges on said brackets spaced from the outer ends of said members when said the pivoted arms of the clips extend parallel to said forwardly projecting flanges, and with said forwardly projecting flanges spaced above said vload carrying members when the pivoted arms of said clips extend perpendicularly to said forwardly projecting flanges, and a front member removably supported by and extending along the front and integrally along the outer ends of said load carrying members.

9. A head box and support for a Venetian blind comprising, an elongated load carrying portion having blind lifting and tilting mechanisms mounted thereon, angle brackets having rear flanges adapted to be secured to an inwardly facing surface of a window casing parallel to the window and forwardly projecting flanges adapted to be alternatively connected to a transversely extending surface of a window casing, angle shaped clips having arms pivotally secured to said rear flanges and having their swinging arms extending perpendicularly to said rear flanges and longitudinally adjustably and removably connected to the bottom of said load carrying portion at the ends thereof with the forwardly projecting flanges on said brackets spaced from the ends of said portion when the pivoted arms of the clips extend parallel to said forwardly projecting flanges and with said forwardly projecting flanges spaced above said load carrying portion when the pivoted arms of said clips extend perpendicularly to said forwardly projecting flanges, and a front facia portion supported by and extending along the front and integrally along the ends of said load carrying portion.

GLENN L. SHERWOOD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,027,280 Lindemann Jan. 7, 1936 2,120,292 Nisenson June 14, 1938 2,158,826 Lorentzen May 26, 1939 2,166,599 Kuyper July 18, 1939 2,201,499 Nisenson May 21, 1940 2,486,996 Stuber Nov. 1. 1949 2,529,229 Sherwood Nov. 7, 1950 

